A former soldier accused of repeatedly raping a young girl and trying to rape another told police "anybody who does something like that wants killing", a court heard.

Lee Buckle, 30, is on trial at Hull Crown Court accused of sexually abusing two girls in Hull.

Mr Buckle, of Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, denies six counts of rape of a child under 13, attempted rape, two sexual assaults of a child under 13, and two other sexual offences against a child under 13. He says they simply never happened.

ON TRIAL: Lee Buckle arrives at Hull Crown Court

The allegations were first made in 2011, but after an initial investigation police decided not to pursue the case, or refer it to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the court has heard.

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Mr Buckle was only charged over the 2011 allegations after he admitted abusing another girl last year.

He was serving with the British Army in Germany in 2011 when he was arrested at Leeds-Bradford airport after being told to return to the UK without knowing the nature of the allegations against him.

Told he was being arrested on suspicion of rape and attempted rape, he said: "No. Not a chance."

Giving evidence in his defence, Mr Buckle was asked by Richard Thompson, prosecuting, about comments he made in his third police interview in 2011, when he said: "Anybody who does something like that wants killing. It's sick."

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He had earlier told the court that in 2016, while living at RAF Leeming, his mental health was "declining" as he could not work after having bones removed from an injured foot, and he was abusing prescription drugs and alcohol.

"Once you received the pictures, did you look at them?" Mr Thompson asked.

"Not really," Mr Buckle said.

"Did it take much effort to get [the girl] to send you them?" Mr Thompson asked.

"I can't remember," said Mr Buckle.

ACCUSED: Lee Buckle

"You were asking for specific things, specific poses," Mr Thompson said. "I can't remember," Mr Buckle said. "End of the day I got pictures off her, which is wrong and I should be punished for it."

Mr Thompson said Mr Buckle had "always carried a sexual interest in children".

"No, have I f**k," he said.

Mr Buckle told the court he joined the Army aged 18, but failed basic training after 22 weeks. He later rejoined and served for 12 years but was medically discharged on September 18 this year, the court heard.

He said he had suffered "significant" physical and mental injuries in service and was seeking compensation.

Mr Buckle's previous convictions included assault occasioning actual bodily harm against his wife while serving in Germany - for which he said he got "sent straight to the nut house" - and theft.